Polite people don’t walk around with “Good Citizen” badges pinned to their chests — but they do have an unofficial code of unwritten rules that keep them from becoming public enemies. It’s not just about remembering to say “please” and “thank you” — it’s about what you don’t do.
Because let’s be real: one loud phone call or an oblivious queue jump is all it takes to go from “polite” to “public nuisance.” So, if you don’t want to be a public enemy, here are 16 things that polite people never — and I mean never — do in public.
Overshare Loudly on Speakerphone
No, you’re not the main character at Starbucks, babe. No one signed up for your personal podcast. No one wants to be subjected to hearing about your toenail fungus, boyfriend drama, or Brenda in HR. Considerate people know to keep the small talk to themselves or go somewhere else. Speakerphone in public? It’s a red flag for sure — and yes, we’re judging.
Cut the Queue Like You’re Royalty
Unless you are bleeding or are Beyoncé, you can wait. Respectful people wait in line like it’s some kind of tradition. Queue-jumpers, on the other hand, act like the rules don’t apply to them — and play dumb when caught. And no, it doesn’t look cute.
Staring at People Like They’re an Exhibit
There is a fine line between the casual glance and the outright stare that makes someone check their reflection for smudged mascara. Polite people look without making others feel like they’re part of a crime scene lineup.
They Don’t Block Aisles Like a Human Traffic Jam
You know those people who stop in the middle of a busy supermarket aisle to scroll on the phone or catch up? They’ve basically opted to be human roadblocks. Well-mannered people? They move aside. Because nothing says “I’m the main character” more than blocking the middle of the busy space with everyone else having to navigate around them.
Blast Music Without Headphones
We get it; you’ve got a taste. But unless you are DJing the subway, nobody asked for your playlist. Well-mannered people don’t make the bus, park, or train into their personal DJ booth by playing music on their phones at maximum volume. Headphones were invented for a reason. If you want to drop beats in public, at least have the decency to charge an entry fee.
They Don’t Turn Public Spaces Into Their Personal Therapy Session
Break-ups, awful bosses, and family drama – we all have them. But civilized humans don’t scream about life’s woes in the middle of the café like they’re on an episode of Real Housewives. It’s nobody’s business if Graig from accounting stole your idea – that’s a vent-for-later moment, not an audience play.
Leave the Bathroom Looking Like a Warzone
If you’re out here peeing on the seat, not flushing, or leaving mystery puddles — congratulations, you’re what nightmares are made of. Polite people treat public restrooms like their own. Actually, better than their own, because other humans exist.
They Don’t Treat Basic Hygiene Like an Optional Extra
Well-mannered people don’t skip deodorant and hope for the best — they get about the business of taking care of themselves without turning it into a public spectacle. Flossing one’s teeth at the table? Picking toenails on the train? Spraying a cloud of perfume that could choke an elephant? Big no. Just because you can do it in public does not mean you should.
Leave A Trail Of Trash Behind
Civilized people aren’t Hansel and Gretel – they don’t leave breadcrumbs (or coffee cups, receipts, and gum wrappers) wherever they go. If you’re dropping litter like you’re marking territory, you’re not quirky. You’re just rude. Clean up after yourself. It’s basic human decency.
Play the “Let Me Just Squeeze In” Game
Polite people don’t squeeze themselves into tight spots like they’re liquid. If the train is full, they wait. If the table’s too close to them, they don’t hover. That “lemme just slip by” move with full body contact? No thanks.
They Don’t Talk at Maximum Volume Indoors
Ever been in a restaurant and listened to someone’s life story at the top of their lungs throughout the dining room? Well-mannered people have volume control. If you are louder than the blender at a smoothie bar, it’s time to dial it down. It’s a conversation — not a public address.
Block the Escalator Like a Brick Wall
The left side is for walking. This is not a drill. Be considerate, stand on the right, let others pass by, and don’t use the escalator as if it’s the sofa. If you’re standing in the middle, you’re not only annoying — you’re causing traffic jams.
They Don’t Hover Over Someone’s Shoulder Like a Nosy Ghost
Nothing is weirder than having someone standing extremely close in line or reading off your shoulder. Good-mannered people know that personal space is not a choice — it’s the law. If you can read someone’s phone screen without having to strain to see it, you’re standing too close.
Eat Noisy, Smelly Snacks like It’s a Mukbang
Well-mannered people quietly munch and consume the tuna sandwich during personal time. If you are crunching the chips like it’s some kind of event or peeling candy with the slowest fingers in the world, congrats— you’ve annoyed the entire room in under 30 seconds.
They Don’t Mock or Imitate People for Laughter
Well-mannered people don’t use “funny” accents, mimic the way someone walks, or imitate their mannerisms for the sake of cheap jokes. There’s a thin line between humor and humiliation, and if you’re making another person’s personality the punchline, the joke’s on you.
They Don’t Film Strangers for “Content” Without Consent
We get it — public fails and awkward moments make for viral content. But well-civilized people don’t secretly record strangers to blast their embarrassing moments online. It is not “funny” to film someone struggling with shopping bags or slipping on the ice — it’s just… creepy. If you wouldn’t want to be the meme, don’t make someone else the meme.
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